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Nada Surf/Sondre Lerche/The People
Chain Reaction
February 8, 2003
Dan MacIntosh

ANAHEIM, CA - Nada Surf has been accused being a Weezer rip-off (not entirely true) and a one hit wonder (well, probably correct), but to suggest that this power pop trio lacks artistic merit would be severely selling it short. Its hour-plus set of melodic rock was filled with sincere heart and soul. Songs like "Fruit Fly," from the recent Let Go release, exhibited how this outfit can take the unlikely inspiration of insects gathered around fruit, and turn this into a tasty musical concoction. With "Inside Of Love," was also a pure pop delight, which took a more direct route toward describing the ins and outs of romance. At one point, vocalist Matthew Caws even led the group into a spot-on snippet of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart."

The approximately 200 hundred music fans at this all ages venue were collectively hushed when Norwegian Sondre Lerche held the stage with his unique brand of acoustic folk. His set-closing cover of Coal Porter's "Night And Day," suggested that such standards have had a strong impact on his own writing style. When he sang his own tunes - such as "Sleeps On Needles" and "All Luck Ran Out" - there was a distinct jazzy flavor in his voice, and sophistication to his lyrics.

This show was opened by The People from Kansas City, which is quartet that plays a hard to categorize brand of rock music. And while they've been likened to music from the '70s glam era in the past, to these ears, much of they music they played this night sounded closer to Brian Eno's pre-Bowie and pre-ambient solo work. Some of its new material, such as "Robots," even hinted at new wave rock. The band his fronted by Ben Grimes, who looks a little like Sting-meets-Danny Bonaduce, has a natural charisma that attracts all the focus when the group is on stage.

On more than one occasion, members of this touring package - which was on the second to last night of a cross country jaunt - made mention of how nice it was to finally be in a warm climate, after battling through a blizzard in South Dakota and other non-hot spots. These touring mates also received a warm reception from this audience, since each presented unique spins on quality pop rock.

 

 


2003 White Elephant Productions